THIS week AXA Wealth colleagues in Basingstoke are enjoying five days of charity fundraising and sustainability.

It is all part of the company’s Corporate Responsibility Week, which began on Monday at the investment and retirement specialist’s head office in Winterthur Way, where staff have volunteered for activities, competitions and talks.

All the activities celebrate the work employees already undertake to reduce energy consumption and support local charities, while offering them opportunities to learn how they can become more involved.

Among the initiative was the installation of a charity drop box as employees are e encouraged to recycle unwanted clothes for Hampshire charity, Naomi House and Jacksplace for later sale in its charity shops.

As it is Ascot Week, a hat show is among the activities on offer as well as sport challenges, a photograph competition, taster classes for new activities and quizzes.

AXA already has a strong global corporate responsibility record.

Its work has been ranked as the best in the insurance industry sector by rating agency Vigeo.

AXA Wealth’s green credentials are similarly well established.

Since 2013m 100 per cent of AXA Wealth’s energy comes from renewable sources – 79 per cent of all office waste is recycled and paper consumption has been slashed by 29 per cent since 2012.

Chief executive officer Mike Kellard, said: “This is the fourth annual CR Week and I have no doubt that it will be even more successful than previous years.

“In AXA Wealth we care about our local community, our people, our customers and the environment and do all we can to operate in a responsible and sustainable way.

“This week is designed to showcase the great things our people do and encourage them to think about the role they play in society throughout the whole year. I’m planning on getting involved and most importantly catching up with those people within the business who’ve made a big difference within our community through volunteering and fundraising.”

AXA was recently named as one of the Top 25 in the Sunday Times Best Companies To Work For.